In January 1990, the City of Markham approved an economic development strategy that targeted the need to assist the business sector in creating world-wide trading and investment opportunities. It was acknowledged that to maintain the City's strong economic position, Markham must promote itself internationally and assist its businesses in capitalizing on global trading and investment opportunities. To address these opportunities, the City initiated a partnership comprising the Markham Board of Trade and the York Technology Association. To ensure a community economic focus, the partnership coined the concept of "Economic Alliance". An economic alliance is defined as an association between municipalities and business groups of two geographic jurisdictions with the purpose of establishing networks to develop business relations and opportunities.

The stated objective of Markham's Economic Alliance Program is to "create a global network of business relationships with communities and business groups in strategic market locations and to create an international awareness of Markham's business assets and locational benefits". Since its inception in 1990, over a dozen economic alliance agreements have been negotiated, of which at least 4 remain active:

Active Alliance Partners

• City of Nordlingen, Germany
• Haidian District (Beijing), China (Zhongguancun Science Park in Sept. 2002)
• Town of Cary, North Carolina (Research Triangle area)
• Wuhan, Hubei Province, China